Rule of Law vs Rule of Men - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #31 02-03-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has.

Now, THAT is funny

cmac2012 · #32 02-03-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Who was it who said "it is our patriotic duty to pay more taxes"?

Who was that, Biden? He tried to clarify it by saying that it's patriotic to pay taxes as opposed to hiding one's assets in some offshore tax haven.

The sort of which Cheney's shadow corp. Hal-hal-halliburton did bigtime, this after receiving copious US funds for this and that, things like building showers that electrocute Green Berets in Iraq.

Although there is a certain efficiency to them not paying taxes. I mean, we went to all this trouble to give them, not to mention high income bankers, taxpayer funds, seems like a waste of time for them to give some of those funds back to the govt. as then they'd just have to go through the same process again.

As for Daschle, I was never that big on the guy, his wife was a lobbyist while he was a Senator. But something in this story seems weird: six figure tax bill for a car and driver?? What, was it M. Schumacher driving him around in a McLaren, with an equally exotic new car each week?

DieselAddict · #33 02-04-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

I think it does change the point. As Botnst noted, there is a big difference between a pardon and a commutation. Libby will always be a convicted felon.

The Libby case seems to be one of many examples of Bush standing up for principle, although I don't know what Bush's reasons were for doing what he did in that case. Compared to many other politicians, Bush seems to do a better job of doing what he thinks is right, rather than what would be popular or easy. The problems are (a) he has a skewed sense of right and wrong and (b) he will use dishonest and immoral means to achieve what he thinks is the right result.

It was Bush's principle not to commute anyone's sentence unless some time was already served in prison. As I recall Libby didn't serve any time so there Bush violated even his own principle. And what about shielding Rove and others from having to testify in Congress about things like the firing of US attorneys? Certainly republicans don't seem immune from shielding their own, contrary to the OP's assertion.

Botnst · #34 02-04-2009, 07:53 AM

I KNEW it was Bush's fault.

Honus · #35 02-04-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

It was Bush's principle not to commute anyone's sentence unless some time was already served in prison...

I didn't know that.

Quote:

... And what about shielding Rove and others from having to testify in Congress about things like the firing of US attorneys?...

That whole debacle is a great example of the Bush crowd's disdain for the law.

Botnst · #36 02-04-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

I didn't know that.That whole debacle is a great example of the Bush crowd's disdain for the law.

Are you suggesting that there is no (or should not be) executive privilege? Would you not agree that the concept is itself not clearly defined in law or practice?

I believe that Rove was not a presidential appointee and thus, not bound by the rules imposed by senatorial confirmation. As I understand it, the argument is that since he has no portfolio in government that he is covered under private deliberations of the presidency. Would you suggest that the private deliberations of the president should be made public?

Finally, Rove (and others) agreed to speak to Congress if they could do so without subpoena but that the committees don't want that. Why not?